After our safari journey with &Beyond to Phinda and the amazing Forest Lodge and reserve, we continued our journey to Cape Town and its surrounding areas. We all arrived at the Johannesburg airport, from Durban and then the senior boomers and millenials popped on another flight direct to Cape Town. Arriving early afternoon we picked up our rental car. We had decided to travel through the wine country and then further south to go shark cage diving.
Our first overnight stop we chose Stellenbosch which is in South African wine country. It becomes more apparent in the western cape the outside influences other countries and cultures have had in South Africa. Obviously the British, but there is a very strong Dutch influence as well. The names of many towns and cities are definitely a tip off. It can also be seen in their amazing food and culture as well.
Stellenbosch is one of a few towns smack dab in the middle of their wine country. It is a college town, and you definitely get that vibe strolling through the main streets of the town. Lots of young active people. And of course the University is right there in the middle of town. We stayed in a comfortable and quaint Airbnb located within walking distance to many restaurants and bars. It has an upscale and hip feel and although it is a college town (which our millennial girls loved) it is also caters to our senior population as well.
The lodging accommodations for this Western Cape journey, we chose more budget friendly options, whereby, allowing more money in the budget for activities and dining. Especially since we senior boomers were hosting our lovely millennial daughters. In Stellenbosch we stayed in town at an AirBnb.
Wine Tasting, Wildlife and Golf. Everything is possible!
There are many wineries located near Stellenbosch and Franschoek. We found a really fun one called Vrendenheim Wildlife and Wine. Vrendenheim is set in the beautiful hills of South Africa’s wine country. They not only have an incredible winery, but a wildlife park as well. Fantastic wines, particularly the Sauvignon Blancs, Roses and Chenin Blanc. The next morning Tom and I played golf at Pearl Valley. A Jack Nicklaus course. Really fun course and a good walking course. Beautiful scenery abounds and the course was in great shape. We met up with the girls after golf and headed to Gansbaii on the southern coast for the shark cage dive set up for the next day.
The drive was beautiful and easy. The next day was the cage dive. In Gansbaii there are many options to do this and we went with the company that had the best overall reviews primarily on Trip Advisor and Yelp. We chose the White Shark Diving Company. They not only came highly recommended, but they also limit the number of guests on the boat to 22 people. I did research through smaller, independent traveler’s reviews as well.
Shark! 
Cage diving is a unique experience. In South Africa there are four different locations to experience it. Mossel Bay, Bird Island, Gansbaai, and False Bay. We chose our shark cage adventure destination in Gansbaii. There are quite a few charter companies that offer trips out. The boat takes you out to an area off the bay called “shark alley”. Named because the open water is bordered by land on one side and an island on the outer side. Making the open water a look like a long “alley”. There are tons of seals on the island and the great whites love seals. There is a bit of controversy about cage diving, specifically regarding how they attract the shark to the boats with cages. The charter operators do chum the water. Critics have said that these tours and attracting the in such a way sharks has disrupted their normal behaviour and along with the chumming of the water may desensitise the sharks to humans.
However, that being understood, choose a company that is ethical and promotes the educational components involving the great whites. The company we chose came highly recommended and they are invested and involved with education, conservation and protection of not only the great white sharks, but other shark species.
So the low down on how the dive happens. You basically wear a wetsuit and stand inside a cage that is attached to the side of the boat. Depending on how big your boat is, you may or may not need to take turns with other guests inside the cage. In the cage when the sharks swim up to the cage the spotters yell out to “duck” under the water and if the water is clear enough you have a front row seat to these great whites!. So forgot to mention that you also wear swim mask and snorkel as well. When you’re not in the cage, or like me didn’t want to do it the upper deck of the boat is a great place to get some incredible pictures! I highly suggest if this is an activity of interest to be aware of weather and water clarity. If flexibility and time is on your side, wait for a clear, calm ocean day to go out. The water will be clearer and will be your best chance to see great whites. After shark cage diving it’s off to Cape Town.
Cape Town in all its Glory
Cape Town is an amazing city. It is gorgeous, picturesque, clean and its people are friendly and culturally diverse. We stayed in the city center in a AirBnb apartment. Our apartment was fantastic. It had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, full kitchen (never used it btw, too many affordable restaurants!) with a washer and dryer and we were within walking distance of many restaurants and bars. Tiger’s Milk Kitchen and bar was just across the street from our apartment became an afternoon mainstay for a refreshing drink. The view from our apartments outdoor patio had a knock out amazing view of Table Mountain and the city. The apartment came with parking in the buildings garage. It was a nail biter to come and go from it due to the low ceiling was, but also because of how narrow and twisty it was. So, we seldom drove our rental car in town. Uber was a very affordable option and we all kept our nails intact.
Would have been nice to know!
Information regarding the people who are always helping with parking and that wear bright colored vests. They are called car guards. There are different kinds and it is kind of confusing what to do. Some are self appointed and some are not. Poverty and unemployment is a seriously real deal in South Africa. The car guards, whether self appointed or not are incredibly helpful and nice. They work for tips. The general rule is to tip them R5 – R10. So, please tip them. You will find that their direction to parking spaces is worth it! If the car guard is there to collect payment for the parking, they are typically not tipped. You will see them anywhere that there is public parking.
Multiple visits to the Victoria and Alfred waterfront is a MUST! For all of us boomers, it is an easy stroll and so much to see. Lots of cafes and benches to enjoy the waterfront and people watch. Many shops, restaurants and markets indoor and outdoor galore!
Table Mountain is the iconic mountain nearly every visitor has on their list to see. Just know that you have to take a tram up to the top and if it is a windy day they have to shut it down. Be aware that if you’re shy of heights or prone to vertigo, you may have to put a blindfold on because the tram goes all the up and is steep! We loved it. They have a snack area on the top and many photo opportunities. Also there is a Table Mountain information phone number you can call to find out the status of the tram. Once up there the view is spectacular! The other well known, but less journeyed options are Lions Head and Devils Peak. They both flank Table Mountain.
Hiking and Skydiving with the Millennials.
You don’t need a couple of millennials to keep you active!
By the way, there is an option to hike up Table Mountain. It is considered moderate to hard hike. Tom and Emily decided to do that one day and despite getting off the marginally marked trail, eventually made it! While they did that (on Mother’s Day),
I accompanied Sarah to her skydiving adventure! Happy Mother’s Day to me!
(That’s a long way down)
Other excursions that are a must for adventurous boomers include Simons Town to see the penguins! The coastal towns along the way following the coastline are breathtaking and definitely worth a stop and cruise around. Check out Clifton and have a beach day!
Kirstenbosch Gardens. Stunning! Amazing! This gigantic “garden” hosts over 7000 types of plant species. Located on the eastern slope of Table Mountain. Plan on spending a couple hours here, or bring a picnic and enjoy the magnificence of it. Pathways and walkways cover the entirety. Mostly easy walking and most all the plant and tree species are labeled.
Last but not least is a day trip to Robben Island. The island prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 of his 27 years of incarceration. Book a tour. The travel over is by boat and the tours are given by guides who had been imprisoned there mostly by politically motivated “crimes”. They gave great insight to the history there. Robben Island is a sunny, hot, flat, barren place. Many of us who grew up in the boomer generation, have memories of what apartheid was and still is, their complicated history.
We (boomers) like to incorporate the “Hop on, Hop Off” bus system for getting a really good overview of a city. Combine that tour with a visit to the museum in Cape Town called District 6 and learn more about apartheid and the history of this diverse, awe inspiring and complicated country. The cradle of humanity.
There are so many other activities in Cape Town and its surrounding areas that this could be your destination all on its own! Cape Town is truly amazing.